Hydraulically operated dehorner



Oct. 13, 1964 R. G. ADAM HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED DEHORNER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 21, 1962 Roberf 6. Adam INVENTOR.

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United States Patent Ofifice 3,152,397 Patented Get. 13, 1964 HYDRAULECALLY EEHGRNER o 23, Glreene, @lrla. Filed Feb. 21, 1962, Ear. No. 174,822 3 Qialms. (ill. 3 228) The present invention generally relates to a dehorning apparatus, and more particularly relates to a hydraulically operated portable dehorner broadly characterized by a rigid frame provided with a fixed cutter blade and a movable cutter blade operable within the frame so as to produce a shearing type cutting action.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a portable cow dehorner which can be easily held and positioned for operative use.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a dehorner wherein the trigger actuating means can be operated while maintaining a firm grip on the handle means provided for the stabilizing of the device.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of motor and pump means connected to the dehorner by elongated hydraulic lines thereby enabling the dehorner to be moved independently of the source of power.

Additionally, an object of the present invention involves the provision of means whereby the motor speed will automatically be reduced and the pump valve automatically closed during the non-use of the dehorner.

Likewise, an important object of the present invention is the provision of a dehorner which is simple in construction and capable of being used continuously requiring little or no maintenance over long periods of time.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present invention illustrating the manner in which the dehorner is mounted on the stand during non-use thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a partial elevation taken substantially on a plane passing along line 2-2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of he dehorner shown in FIGURE 1 with portions thereof broken away to illustrate the manner of operation thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 44 in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 5-5 in FIGURE 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 19 generally designates the dehorner comprising the present invention, the motor means is referred to by reference numeral 12 and the pump means is designated by numeral 14.

The motor means 12 is preferably an air cooled three horsepower gasoline motor mounted on a base 16 and having a drive shaft 18 drivingly connected to the pump shaft 29 through a coupling 22.

The pump 14, also mounted on base 16, is provided with a bypass valve 24 provided with a sliding stem 26 projecting from one end thereof and pivotally connected to an upstanding stand 28. The stand 28 is pivotally connected to the base by means of a bracket 3!? and bolt 32, the upper end of the stand 28 being provided with a hook or angle member 34 upon which the dehorner it is to be mounted.

A spring means 36 is fixedly secured at one end to the pump means 14 by an extending bracket 33. The other end of the spring 36 is pivotally secured to the upstanding stand 28 and is adapted to bias the stand 28 into a substantially vertical position when the dehorner is removed,

thereby inwardly moving the valve stem 26 to its open position so as to provide for the desired flow of hydraulic fluid through the pressure line 4i). A throttle cable 42 is also mounted on the pump means 14 by a bracket 44 and is secured to the stand 23 at one end and the motor throttle at the other end thereby providing a means for automatically speeding up the motor upon the movement of the stand 28 toward an upright position so as to coincide with the opening of the bypass valve 24.

The dehorner Iii during periods of non-use, is mounted on the extending hook 34 of the stand 28, the weight of the dehorner 10 being sufficient to cause an outward movement of the stand 28 against the biasing force of the spring 36 which results in an automatic closing of the valve 24 and slowing down of the motor speed. It will be noted, as seen in FIGURE 1, that a return line 46 is also provided between the dehorner 10 and the pump means 14.

The dehorner it? consists of an upper frame or head 48 having a first handle means 59 secured thereto by means of a depending flange 52 on the handle through which selected ones of the fasteners 55 extend. A fixed V-shaped cutter blade 5'4 is also secured to the upper end of the frame or head 48 by the fasteners 5-6. A lower movable cutting blade 58 is slidably positioned within two aligned slots 60 in the upstanding sides 62 of the frame 4-8 and is adapted to slide into overlapping shearing engagement with the fixed blade 54 thereby accomplishing a complete severing of the animals horn. The lower end of the frame 48 is bifurcated so as to form two extending sections 64 which are secured to a casing 66 by bolt means 68.

The casing 66 is provided with an elongated body portion 79 which may be either rectangular or circular in cross-section, two outwardly extending and gradually converging ends 72, which extending ends 72 additionally project laterally from each side of the body 9 and two pairs of ears 7d projecting outwardly from the extending ends 72 and providing a means for securing the frame 48 to the casing 66 through the use of bolts 68. As shown in FEGURES 2 and 5, a spacer means 76 is also provided at the joint between the frame 48 and the casing 66.

A hydraulic cylinder 73 is located within the body portion 79 of the casing 66 and is provided with a cylinder head 8% and a rear plate 82 secured thereto by longitudinally extending bolts 84-. Suitable grooves and sealing gaskets 85 may be provided as needed.

A piston preferably formed of two C-rings, is located within the cylinder '78, and a piston rod 59% secured thereto, extends through the cylinder head and into the frame 43 where it is secured by means 92 to an elongated bar or shaft 94 which is in turn secured to the movable blade 58 whereby reciprocating movement of the piston rod 94 will cause the desired cutting movement of the blade 58.

A control-valve 9'6 is secured to the body 76 by means of a bracket )8 and bolt Hail, and acts as a means for alternatively moving the piston forward and returning the piston to its original position by the se lective introduction of hydraulic fluid through lines 1432. and 164. As will be not d in FIGURE 1, the pressure line 4% and return line n? are secured directly to the control valve 96.

A trigger or valve controlling means 1% is pivotally secured to the casing body 7t? and spaced slightly therefrom by a spacer 193 through which the pivot shaft or bolt 119 extends. An elongated rod 112 extends from the valve controlling means to the control valve 96 and is adapted, upon the pivoting of the controlling means 1% in one direction, to cause an introduction of the hydraulic fluid through line 1&2 thereby inducing a forward movement to the piston $3, and, by the a 3 movement of the controlling means we in a second direction, to provide for an introduction of the hydraulic fluid through line 1 34- thereby resul ing in a return of the piston to its original starting position.

A second elongated handle means 13.4 is secured by welding 116 or any other convenient means, to one of the transversely extending sides of the extending ends 72. As best seen in FIGURES 1 and 3, the second handle means lie extends along the casing body '70 close to the controlling means 1 51: thereby enabling the user of the device to conveniently activate the controlling means while maintaining a firm grip upon the elongated handle 114.

The manner of operation of the present invention is considered to be readily apparent from the foregoing description. The dehorner, including a fixed cutter blade and a movable cutter blade actuated by a hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement, during non-use is suspended from a stand which is pivotally secured to a base upon which is mounted both a motor means and a pump means. The stand has secured thereto a throttle cable extending to the motor means, a valve stem for the pump valve, and a spring biasing the stand into an upright position which, because of the manner in which the valve stem and throttle cable are attached to the upright stand, will cause an opening of the pump valve and a speeding up of the motor thereby automatically putting the dehorner in operative condition merely by removal of the dehorner from the stand. Additionall it will be noted that the dehorner is provided with two handle means insuring a proper grip thereon by the user. Also of significance is the position of the valve controlling means in a location so as to allow ready and easy access thereto without the necessity of removing the users grip from the handle means. Thus, the present invention combines the convenience of a portable dehorner with the desirability of having a source of power which should be more than ample for any circumstances.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resoned to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1.A dehorner comprising a portable cutter frame,

a fixed cutter blade secured Within the upper end of the frame, a movable cutter blade slidably mounted in the frame below the fixed blade for movement toward and away from the fixed blade, hydraulic piston and cylinder means secured to the lower end of the frame and connected to the movable cutter blade for movement thereof, a first handle means mounted on the frame adjacent the upper end thereof, a second handle means secured to the lower end of the frame and extending outwardly from but substantially parallel to the piston cylinder means, and a valve means for activating the cutter, and valve control means being mounted between the piston and cylinder and the second handle means.

2. A dehorning device comprising a portable cutter frame, a fixed cutter blade secured to the upper end of the frame, a movable cutter blade slidably mounted in the frame below the fixed blade for movement toward and away from the fixed blade, means for selectively effecting movement of the movable cutter blade, at first handle means rigidly fixed to said frame and located above the upper end thereof so as to allow for the direct application of pressure in the vicinity of the fixed cutter blade, and a second handle means rigidly fixed to the lower end of the frame and located outward therefrom so as to allow for the direct application of pressure at the opposite end of the frame from the first handle means and below the movable blade.

3. A dehorning device comprising an elongated portable cutter frame, a fixed cutter blade secured to one end of the frame, a movable cutter blade slidably mounted in the frame for movement toward and away from the fixed blade, means for selectively effecting movement of the movable blade, first handle means fixed to said frame adjacent the Med blade, said first handle means proiect ing out of the plane of the frame, and second handle means fixed to said frame adjacent the end thereof opposite from said one end, said second handle means projecting outwardly from the frame generally in the plane of said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A DEHORNER COMPRISING A PORTABLE CUTTER FRAME, A FIXED CUTTER BLADE SECURED WITHIN THE UPPER END OF THE FRAME, A MOVABLE CUTTER BLADE SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN THE FRAME BELOW THE FIXED BLADE FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE FIXED BLADE, HYDRAULIC PISTON AND CYLINDER MEANS SECURED TO THE LOWER END OF THE FRAME AND CONNECTED TO THE MOVABLE CUTTER BLADE FOR MOVEMENT THEREOF, A FIRST HANDLE MEANS MOUNTED ON THE FRAME ADJACENT THE UPPER END THEREOF, A SECOND HANDLE MEANS SECURED TO THE LOWER END OF THE FRAME AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM BUT SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE PISTON CYLINDER MEANS, AND A VALVE MEANS FOR ACTIVATING THE CUTTER, AND VALVE CONTROL MEANS BEING MOUNTED BETWEEN THE PISTON AND CYLINDER AND THE SECOND HANDLE MEANS. 